The family of a 15-year-old girl found dead in a Near-Westside backyard says they "want justice" for what they and police believe was a random homicidal act.

Authorities on Tuesday said they have no person of interest in the killing of Ben Davis freshman Dominique Allen, two days after her badly burned body was discovered in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue. The Marion County coroner's office on Tuesday ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.

Poindexter, 38, gathered Tuesday with about a dozen other family members on North Elder Avenue to speak to the media. A few yards away, where Dominique's body was found, stood a cross adorned with a few flowers and two stuffed animals.

Addressing her sister's killer, Poindexter said, "I swear to God, on my life, that you will pay for what you did."

Marcus Kennedy, a homicide detective with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said Dominique was last seen around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, sitting on a concrete ledge outside her sister's house, located about a mile northwest from where her body was found about eight hours later.

Argued with friends

Kennedy said she was hanging out with friends and had gotten into an argument.

"She was stewing out there on the little concrete half-wall," he said.

As Dominique's friends went inside the house, Kennedy said, she remained on the ledge. The sister who lived in the home, 30-year-old Mareeka Allen, said she noticed Dominique was missing when she woke up the next day. IMPD records show a missing person report was filed around 1 p.m. Sunday.

How Dominique left her sister's house is also unclear; Kennedy said her phone was left inside the house. Kennedy also said a car was likely used to take her to an abandoned house in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, where detectives found the girl's sandals and purse.

Kennedy said detectives believe Dominique might have been strangled to death inside that house before her body was driven about a block away to North Elder Avenue and set on fire. A neighbor found the body around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, while he was walking his dog. The body was not positively identified until Tuesday.

Kennedy said autopsy reports showed Dominique was not alive when her body was burned.

"It's done to get rid of evidence, usually," Kennedy said of burnings of bodies. He also said police do not yet know how many people might have been involved, or why Dominique was slain.

"At this time, we do believe it is random," he said.

Tragedy strikes again

The teen's death marked the second time in recent years that tragedy has struck the family. In October 2012, Dominique's mother, Sherri Allen, died after suffering from Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease.

IMPD Chaplain David Coatie, right, supports Louis Allen, center, father of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, as they walk back to the site where her body was found. Allen and other family members spoke to the news media at the site on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Dominique's purse and shoes were found today in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, about a block away from where her body was found. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled the death, by asphyxiation, a homicide. Dominique Allen was a Ben Davis freshman. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

Louis Allen, father of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, spoke to the news media on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 with other family members at the site. Dominique's purse and shoes were found today in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, about a block away from where her body was found. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled the death, by asphyxiation, a homicide. Dominique Allen was a Ben Davis freshman. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

Shenika Poindexter, sister of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, pauses as she speaks along with other family members to the news media at the site on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. The Marion County Coroner's Office has ruled the death of Dominique, a Ben Davis freshman, a homicide by asphyxiation. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

Shenika Poindexter, sister of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, rests her head on the shoulder of her father, Louis Allen, as they spoke to the news media at the site on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Dominique's purse and shoes were found today in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, about a block away from where her body was found. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled the death, by asphyxiation, a homicide. Dominique Allen was a Ben Davis freshman. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

Family members of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue (background) on Sunday, speak to the news media at the site on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Behind the microphones are Dominique's father, Louis Allen, and sister, Shenika Poindexter. At center, in black, is another sister that spoke, Mareeka Allen. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

With IMPD Chaplain David Coatie at his side, Louis Allen, center, father of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, stands by the site with a piece of burned material in his hands on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 after he and other family members spoke to the news media. At right is Dominique's godsister Nira Watts. Dominique's purse and shoes were found today in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, about a block away from where her body was found. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled the death, by asphyxiation, a homicide. Dominique Allen was a Ben Davis freshman. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

IMPD Homicide Detective Marcus Kennedy holds up a photo of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, for the news media to see, before the start of a news conference on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the site where he body was found. Kennedy said this is also what she was wearing when last seen. Her purse and shoes were found Tuesday in the 1900 block of West 10th Street, about a block away from where her body was found. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled the death, by asphyxiation, a homicide. Dominique Allen was a Ben Davis freshman. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

Louis Allen, father of 15-year-old Dominique Allen, whose badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday, August 31m 2014, is hugged by a family member before a news conference held at the scene on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

A cross marks the spot where 15-year-old Dominique Allen's badly burned body was discovered in a backyard in the 1100 block of North Elder Avenue on Sunday. Family members spoke to the news media at the site on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. (Photo: Charlie Nye/The Star)

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Dominique's father, Louis Allen, said he recently retired to take care of his children because of his wife's death.

Family members said Dominique would not get in a car with someone she did not know, and they described her as an ambitious girl who had dreams of going to Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., and becoming a model.

Poindexter and Mareeka Allen said their sister was enjoying her freshman year at Ben Davis and was making a lot of friends.

Mary Lang, spokeswoman for Wayne Township schools, said seven extra counselors supplemented the three on staff at the Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center on Tuesday to help grieving students. About 70 students sought counseling, she said, compared to probably a handful on a normal day.

Dominique also was loved at home, where she grew up the youngest of five sisters and one brother.

"Dominique sucked a bottle until she was 6," Poindexter said. "She said milk tasted funny in a cup."

"She said she always wanted to be a baby forever," Mareeka Allen said.

IMPD Detective Bob Flack addresses media after items related to the case of a Ben Davis High School student who was killed and burned over the weekend were found at 1919 W. 10th St. Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014.
Robert Scheer/The Star